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Some District 2 softball team has to be the upstart.

It happened last year with sixth-seeded Pittston Area advancing to the D2-3A championship game. A year before that, it was sixth-seeded Lakeland, which played for the 2A crown. And in 2014, fourth-seeded Tunkhannock played for the 3A title.

The best place to look in the PIAA’s new six classifications is in Class 4A. It’s basically the old 3A field and it’s where upsets seem likely to happen.

Nanticoke (13-0) comes in as the top seed in the D2-3A playoffs. The Trojanettes, though, understand how tough the bracket will be.

“We respect everybody,” Nanticoke coach Ryan Stetz said. “We like to think we have as good a chance as anyone. We’re going to play loose and play with confidence and give it our best shot.”

Nanticoke had two tough battles with seventh-seeded Dallas to conclude the Wyoming Valley Conference season. Third-seeded Tunkhannock (9-4) had one as well. Afterward, Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty acknowledged Dallas could be troublesome in districts. He mentioned Berwick (2-11) as well.

Two-win Berwick? Well, the Dawgs nearly upset D2-6A top seed Hazleton Area to close out the regular season, falling 4-3.

The focus, though, will be on Nanticoke as well as second-seeded Valley View (11-3). Valley View dominated the D2-3A field at one time, winning four consecutive championships from 2010-2013. The Cougars have been a perennial Lackawanna League power despite not getting a district title the past three years.

“I think we’re peaking at the right time and I feel confident going into the district playoffs,” Stetz said. “We’ve had quality pitching and good defense and we can win a game offensively in many different ways. We have power, we have speed and if we have to bunt, we’ll bunt.

“There are no guarantees in the districts, but we’re comfortable with what we have.”

CLASS 6A

The new 6A field is essentially the old 4A bracket, with District 4’s Williamsport once again part of the process.

Hazleton Area (12-1), which has won five consecutive D2-4A titles, is the only WVC team in the four-team playoff. Once again, the Cougars are favored to make it to states. However, there is some concern. The team is a mix of veterans and newcomers and things haven’t always gone smoothly. The Cougars lost 7-0 to Nanticoke during the regular season, needed to rally to defeat Wyoming Valley West 10-9 and squeezed past two-win Berwick 4-3 to close out their WVC schedule.

The Cougars will host Scranton (4-9) in Monday’s only district game while Williamsport (8-7) travels to Delaware Valley (9-4) on Wednesday in the other semifinal.

CLASS 5A

The plan for the subregional with District 11 was for a four-team bracket with two D2 teams, one D11 team and a wild card based on the D11 power rankings. However, there is a stipulation that any team gets in with a .500 or better overall record. That put Pittston Area and Wyoming Valley West in. Only D11’s East Strousburg North missed the field.

Pittston Area (6-7) was a bit of a Cinderella in the D2-3A playoffs a year ago, going from the sixth seed to the championship game where the Patriots lost 5-0 to Abington Heights. A similar run appears unlikely. While the Patriots won five in a row in the middle of the season and lost two games by one run, they are young and probably a year away.

Valley West (7-6) has a veteran team, but the lack of offense could be the Spartans’ downfall in the subregional. They’ve scored one run four times and have been shut out once, although a 10-9 late-season loss to Hazleton Area showed the team is capable of producing runs.

CLASS 4A

Nanticoke (13-0) is the top seed and is looking to make amends for a semifinal loss in last year’s D2-3A playoffs. The Trojanettes get the winner of the Berwick (2-11) at Crestwood (4-9) game. Berwick defeated Crestwood 8-5 on April 27.

Wyoming Area (7-6) overcame a late-April swoon to get the fourth seed. The Warriors open with a home game against West Scranton (6-7).

Tunkhannock (9-4) is the third seed. The Tigers are a very complete team, although some defensive issues have popped up from time to time. They get the winner of the Coughlin (0-13) at Scranton Prep (5-8) game. Coughlin hasn’t won a WVC game since 2014.

If Dallas (5-8) can get some run production, it could cause some noise. The Mountaineers open with a home contest against Honesdale (1-12), but a victory would mean a very tough matchup with Valley View (11-3).

CLASS 3A

The field is highlighted by Holy Redeemer (13-0), which has won the last two PIAA Class 2A state championships. Bumped to 3A under the new alignment, the Royals shouldn’t miss a beat. They returned eight starters from last season, outscored their WVC Division 3 opponents 158-1 and don’t have a weakness. Their only loss was 3-2 in eight innings to Bethlehem Catholic in a non-conference game on April 8.

Hanover Area (8-6) travels to Lake-Lehman (9-5) in a battle of WVC teams that could be the best matchup in the quarterfinals. Hanover Area defeated the Black Knights 8-7 on April 10 then lost to them 4-0 on May 8.

GAR (0-14) at Meyers (6-8) will be Tuesday. The winner of the opening round game isn’t expected to advance any farther.

In the Lackawanna League, Mid Valley (12-1) and Montrose (11-1) are considered the likeliest opponent for Redeemer in the title game.

CLASS 2A

Wyoming Seminary (8-6) and Northwest (9-5) are the only WVC teams in the eight-team bracket. They play Tuesday at Northwest. Seminary edged Northwest 5-4 on April 5. Northwest won 13-3 in six innings on May 1.

The winner will probably play No. 1 seed Holy Cross (11-2). Holy Cross and second-seeded Elk Lake (10-2) are expected to battle for the title.

CLASS A

District 2 is in a subregional with District 11. MMI Prep, the WVC’s only Class A school, failed to make the six team field consisting of one D2 team (Forest City), four D11 teams and a wild card, which also came from District 11.

District 11 power rankings were used to determine the qualifiers.

Taylor Baloga pitches against Tunkhannock. 4/19/2016 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_clip-soft.jpg.optimal.jpgTaylor Baloga pitches against Tunkhannock. 4/19/2016 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

By John Erzar

[email protected]

DISTRICT GIRLS SOFTBALL

D2/4 CLASS 6A

Semifinals

Monday

• No. 4 Scranton (4-9) at No. 1 Hazleton Area (12-1), 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday

• No. 3 Williamsport (8-7) at No. 2 Delaware Valley (9-4), 4:30 p.m.

Championship

Wednesday, May 31

• Neutral site, time TBA

D2/11 CLASS 5A

Quarterfinals

Tuesday

• No. 5 North Pocono (8-8) at No. 4 Pottsville (12-8), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 6 Wyo. Val. West (9-7) at No. 3 Southern Lehigh (16-4), 4 p.m.

• No. 7 Pittston Area (7-7) at No. 2 Wallenpaupack (12-4), 4 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday

• North Pocono/Pottsville winner at No. 1 Abington Heights

• WVW/Southern Lehigh winner vs. Pittston Area/Wallenpaupack winner, at site of higher seed.

Championship

Tuesday, May 30

• Neutral site, time TBA

DISTRICT 2 CLASS 4A

First Round

Tuesday

• No. 9 Berwick (2-11) at No. 8 Crestwood (4-9), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 11 Coughlin (0-13) at No. 6 Scranton Prep (5-8), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 10 Honesdale (1-12) at No. 7 Dallas (5-8), 4:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Friday

• Crestwood/Berwick winner at No. 1 Nanticoke (13-0), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 5 West Scranton (6-7) at No. 4 Wyoming Area (7-6), 4:30 p.m.

• Scranton Prep/Coughlin winner at No. 3 Tunkhannock (9-4), 4:30 p.m.

• Dallas/Honesdale winner at No. 2 Valley View (11-2), 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Tuesday, May 30

(at site of higher seed)

• Crestwood/Berwick/Nanticoke winner vs. West Scranton/Wyoming Area winner

• Prep/Coughlin/Tunkhannock winner vs. Dallas/Honesdale/Valley View winner

Championship

Thursday, June 1

Neutral site, time TBA

DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A

First Round

Tuesday

• No. 9 Carbondale (1-11) at No. 8 Dunmore (3-9), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 10 GAR (0-14) at No. 7 Meyers (6-8), 4:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Friday

• Carbondale/Dunmore winner at No. 1 Holy Redeemer, 4:30 p.m.

• No. 5 Hanover Area (8-6) at No. 4 Lake-Lehman (9-5), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 6 Lakeland (6-6) at No. 3 Montrose (11-1), 4:30 p.m.

• Meyers/GAR winner at No. 2 Mid Valley (12-1), 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Tuesday, May 30

(at site of higher seed)

• Dunmore/Carbondale/Redeemer winner vs. Hanover/Lehman winner

• Montrose/Lakeland winner vs. Meyers/GAR/Mid Valley winner

Championship

Thursday, June 1

Neutral site, time TBA

DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A

Quarterfinals

Tuesday

• No. 8 Blue Ridge (4-8) at No. 1 Holy Cross (11-2), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 5 Wyo. Seminary (8-6) at No. 4 Northwest (9-5), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 6 Riverside (5-7) at No. 3 Lackawanna Trail (9-3), 4:30 p.m.

• No. 7 Old Forge (5-7) at No. Elk Lake (10-2), 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday

(at site of higher seed)

• Blue Ridge/Holy Cross winner vs. Wyo. Seminary/Northwest winner

• Riverside/Trail winner vs. Old Forge/Elk Lake winner

Championship

Wednesday, May 31

• Neutral site, time TBA

DISTRICT 2/11 CLASS A

Quarterfinals

Tuesday

• No. 5 Forest City (7-10) at No. 4 Mahanoy Area (10-10), 4 p.m.

• No. 6 Nativity BVM (7-13) at No. 3 Tri Valley (12-8), 4 p.m.

Semifinals

Thursday

• Forest City/Mahanoy Area at No. 1 Williams Valley (15-5), time TBA

• Nativity/Tri Valley winner at No. 2 Notre Dame-ES (13-6), time TBA

Championship

Tuesday, May 30

• Site and time TBA

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar